E-sports company setting up shop in the Sault

UMG Media is setting up at the Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship in Sault Ste. Marie from which it will coordinate its online competitive sports games through eastern Canada.

UMG Media — which co-ordinates competitive online sports games — is setting up a division in Sault Ste. Marie.

UP, the city’s initiative to grow its lottery and gaming sector, partnered with UMG to bring the company to the city and announced the news on March 9.

“The decision by UMG to establish operations here in Sault Ste. Marie is an important one for our cluster and the energy of its partners,” said Leo Tiberi, executive lead for UP, in a release.

“E-sports is a fascinating and well-known sector among millennials. It is the fastest growing spectator sport in the world, and is indicative of the shift that is occurring in the gaming industry.”

“E-sports” is a term for videogame competitions, which are growing as spectator events. According to UMG, there were 226 million spectators in 2015; last year, 43 million people watched the world championships of the videogame League of Legends.

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